Paula Bennett 'pleased' 22 people have taken up Government's relocation grant

The initiative was introduced by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett a month ago, and covers the costs of moving, bond, or advance rental fees. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Twenty-two people have taken up a Government offer to leave Auckland and settle in the regions with the help a $5000 grant.

The successful applicants for the relocation grant included one homeless person and four people who had been living in emergency shelters.

The initiative was introduced by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett a month ago, and covers the costs of moving, bond, or advance rental fees.

So far, 12 people have received grants worth a total of $54,508. The group was supporting a total of 32 people.

Another 10 applicants have been approved for the grant, but have not yet moved. The Government has allocated enough money to resettle up to 150 families.

The relocation grant allows people on the waiting list for social housing in Auckland to move to regions where housing is readily available.

Of those who had left Auckland, half had moved into private rental properties and the other half had moved into social housing.

Bennett said she was pleased that people were taking up the offer of help.

One of the successful applicants had been living in their car in Auckland, she said After discussions with Housing New Zealand, the woman had now moved into a two-bedroom house in Invercargill, where she had family support.